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quasinaut's reviews
193 reviews
The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance by Margaret Mahy
4.0
When Laura Chant's little brother Jacko is possessed, she seeks out help from a family of witches. I found it slow to get into, but the book's second half moves along. I loved Laura's POV and her interactions with teenage witch Sorry Carlisle. A fascinating look at 1984 New Zealand, too!
(Originally reviewed for CML Summer Reading 2019)
(Originally reviewed for CML Summer Reading 2019)
The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf
4.25
16-year-old Melati is trapped in the middle of the 1969 Chinese-Malay riots in Kuala Lumpur. It was fascinating experiencing these harrowing few days through Melati's eyes, especially as she fights with her OCD. The prose was odd as some points - Melati's actions were quite passive - but overall a wonderful debut book.
(Originally reviewed for CML Summer Reading 2019)
(Originally reviewed for CML Summer Reading 2019)
Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
(Originally reviewed for CML Summer Reading 2019)
4.0
I read this years ago and was due for a reread. A whimsical adventure! And it has this thought-provoking quote:
Have you noticed how nobody looks up? Nobody looks at chimneys, or trees against the sky, or the tops of buildings. Everybody just looks down at the pavement or their shoes. The whole world could pass them by and people wouldn't notice.
(Originally reviewed for CML Summer Reading 2019)
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Oh, this is a complicated book to rate and review, because Queenie is a complicated character to read about.
I appreciated seeing the development of Queenie and her relationships with her friends, her grandparents, aunt, and cousin, her mother, her boss, and the men in her life - and how each of them respected (or didn't) Queenie's boundaries and choices, while at the same time we get glimpses of how other characters' lives are going and what roles Queenie plays.
Is she a good friend? Is she a good daughter and granddaughter? Is she a good worker? Nothing is so black and white, good and bad, of course, but I was rooting for Queenie, even when she seemed determined to make destructive decisions.
I appreciated seeing the development of Queenie and her relationships with her friends, her grandparents, aunt, and cousin, her mother, her boss, and the men in her life - and how each of them respected (or didn't) Queenie's boundaries and choices, while at the same time we get glimpses of how other characters' lives are going and what roles Queenie plays.
Is she a good friend? Is she a good daughter and granddaughter? Is she a good worker? Nothing is so black and white, good and bad, of course, but I was rooting for Queenie, even when she seemed determined to make destructive decisions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Police brutality
You're Gonna Die Alone (& Other Excellent News) by Devrie Brynn Donalson
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
4.25
This book starts strong, with a very powerful, poignant first half, but the second half was more hit-or-miss for me. I loved Devrie's voice, and how she acknowledged that she might get things wrong and she'll continue to evolve and learn after this book. There were a few extended metaphors (about theater? and then bears?) that didn't work for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Funny Story by Emily Henry
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There are a lot of aspects of this book that I loved, and some that didn't quite hit for me.
The setting, most of the main and side characters, the conversational banter - both flirty and friendly, not just between Daphne and Miles - the get-to-know-Waning-Bay side quests - all of these were pretty great.
For me, though, it was frustrating that Daphne's choices and reactions were all based on her history with her unreliable father: her distrust of Miles for being charming, her judgement of Ashleigh as unreliable for running late, and so on. I wanted her to recognize sooner that she wasn't really seeing them as individuals, but conflating them with her dad and his behavior, and it harmed her developing relationships with them.
As a librarian, I am so grateful for how libraries were portrayed, both the good (community!), the bad (inappropriate patrons!), and the in-between. But there were still parts that bothered me - why was it totally cool for unattended adults to crash storytime? Why did only like four people work at the library? Why was Daphne planning a fundraiser? Why was it her sole focus for months? Why did Daphne do so much work when she wasn't at work?? Pet peeves of mine, sure.
Despite my complaints, the wonderful characters and humor and descriptions made this overall another fun Emily Henry read!
The setting, most of the main and side characters, the conversational banter - both flirty and friendly, not just between Daphne and Miles - the get-to-know-Waning-Bay side quests - all of these were pretty great.
For me, though, it was frustrating that Daphne's choices and reactions were all based on her history with her unreliable father: her distrust of Miles for being charming, her judgement of Ashleigh as unreliable for running late, and so on. I wanted her to recognize sooner that she wasn't really seeing them as individuals, but conflating them with her dad and his behavior, and it harmed her developing relationships with them.
As a librarian, I am so grateful for how libraries were portrayed, both the good (community!), the bad (inappropriate patrons!), and the in-between. But there were still parts that bothered me - why was it totally cool for unattended adults to crash storytime? Why did only like four people work at the library? Why was Daphne planning a fundraiser? Why was it her sole focus for months? Why did Daphne do so much work when she wasn't at work?? Pet peeves of mine, sure.
Despite my complaints, the wonderful characters and humor and descriptions made this overall another fun Emily Henry read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
These characters are so frustrating and flawed, yet I grew to care so deeply about them and their happiness.
I credit that to the writing of their different points of view. Tova was quietly independent - but oblivious to how her solo decisions hurt her friends who wanted her to let them in. Cam has to learn to get over his entitlement and immaturity, and we start seeing glimpses of him figuring his stuff out - notably through seeing Avery as an extremely capable mom and business owner. And then there's Marcellus, our bored and curious octopus, whose commentary on human behavior is funny yet insightful. And I don't want to forget Ethan, who is so welcoming and forgiving but doesn't realize how his chattiness reads as judgemental gossip to both Tova and Cam.
Just like its characters, this book has its flaws, but I'm happy to overlook them because of the story's overall impact.
I credit that to the writing of their different points of view. Tova was quietly independent - but oblivious to how her solo decisions hurt her friends who wanted her to let them in. Cam has to learn to get over his entitlement and immaturity, and we start seeing glimpses of him figuring his stuff out - notably through seeing Avery as an extremely capable mom and business owner. And then there's Marcellus, our bored and curious octopus, whose commentary on human behavior is funny yet insightful. And I don't want to forget Ethan, who is so welcoming and forgiving but doesn't realize how his chattiness reads as judgemental gossip to both Tova and Cam.
Just like its characters, this book has its flaws, but I'm happy to overlook them because of the story's overall impact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug abuse and Suicide attempt
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Lastly, I'm not big on time travel stories, but that's a me thing. The plot made sense of the time travel aspect pretty well, all things considered.
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This one is tricky for me. The book had the potential to be wonderful but it fell short for me, though it had its moments. It was cute, it was heartfelt, and any complaints I have are only because I know this book could have been just that much better.
A few issues:
A few issues:
- Clementine and Iwan's convos often read as trying-too-hard-to-be-banter rather than actually being cute and witty. I much preferred when they had real discussioss with each other.
- Drew and Fiona felt like afterthoughts rather than full characters in their own right.
- There were some descriptions and turns of phrase that came up a few times. I think they were intended to be callbacks to previous scenes, but instead felt clunky and repetitive, like the author had forgotten she'd already used that phrasing before.
- I didn't like how much Clementine used her job as her identity. Her job doesn't have to define her, but she acts like it's this huge, groundbreaking thing to want change.
Lastly, I'm not big on time travel stories, but that's a me thing. The plot made sense of the time travel aspect pretty well, all things considered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well, this was a delight. I enjoyed getting to know this quirky, lovable cast of characters - the murder solving was just an intriguing bonus, for me. I particularly liked getting a mix of narrators so we could see different perceptions of the same event or character.
My only qualm, perhaps, is how the final third felt both convoluted and a bit rushed, though everything came together in the end.
My only qualm, perhaps, is how the final third felt both convoluted and a bit rushed, though everything came together in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Terminal illness
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I appreciated the portrayal of Jacob's anxiety, and loved how Briana naturally responded to it. I didn't love seeing Jacob sometimes get steamrolled by his family - yes they were loving, but also overbearing. I also honestly don't understand why everyone was so up in arms about his ex getting together with his brother, when she and Jacob had clearly not been a good match.
I had some issues with the pacing and struggled with keeping track of the passage of time. I wish the letters had been dated, or there had been other clear markers between events. Questionable decisions and lack of communication aside, I was won over by the characters' chemistry and care for each other.
I had some issues with the pacing and struggled with keeping track of the passage of time. I wish the letters had been dated, or there had been other clear markers between events. Questionable decisions and lack of communication aside, I was won over by the characters' chemistry and care for each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Infidelity and Miscarriage
Minor: Medical content and Pregnancy